Classic Poem

TUNE — Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch .

Saw ye e'er a lawland lassie
Happy in her lawland laddie?
I was she sae blythe and gawsie,
As though I'd ca'd the king my daddie.
My laddie was my heart's delight,
Kind and canty was my Johnnie,
In liking him had I the wyte,
Whan a' the warld ca'd him bonnie?

Our bridal day was set, and a' thing
Ready made to pit's togither,
My tartan plaid, and mony bra' thing
I gat frae my honest mither.
A short fourteen days, Johnnie sware it,
Wu'd make me a' his ain for ever,
And right glad was I to hear it,
We sud now be parted never.

But O! there cam a wearie order,
About a thing they ca' militie ;
Ye cam frae hyn ayont the border,
O! waly fa' the chiel that feish ye!
Cam to tak my Johnnie frae me,
Left me here to mourn about him,
And till he back again cum to me,
I'll never easy be without him.

Sae anee I thought, till ae lang night,
About my Johnnie I was dreamin,
When i' my sleep I saw him bright,
Wi' mony gentlemen and wimen;
He took my hand afore them a'
And gae me kindly kisses plenty,
A saxpence fyte he brak in twa,
His words were sweet as ony dainty.

" Till my militia days are ended,
Jeanie ye maun wait wi' pleasure,
Whan King and Country I've defended,
Ye shall then be a' my treasure.
Ye shall hear my gallant story,
How I fought in Jeanie's favour;
Fought wi' Frenchmen a' for glory,
And from their cruel claws to save her. "

When Scotland's faes are fairly frighten'd,
Never mair to glory o'er her,
Then our hearts will a' be lighten'd
Frae ony fear o' the great devourer.
Sae I'll yield to my country's laws,
And pray for her and Johnnie's honour;
Whan he is fighting in her cause,
May blessings ever light upon her!